Category Archives: Trang tiếng Anh

What Should the United States Do about Cam Ranh Bay and Russia’s Place in Vietnam?

by  • March 16, 2015

By Phuong Nguyen

Camh Ranh Bay, 1969. Source: JeriSisco's flickr photostream, used under a creative commons license.

The revelation on March 11 that Washington expressed concern to Hanoi about Russia’s use of Cam Ranh Bay to assist its bomber flights in the Asia Pacific has again prompted a debate on the role of the port in quickly-warming U.S.-Vietnam defense ties. It became clear that Washington feels uncomfortable about the role Russia still occupies in Vietnam, an increasingly important U.S. partner in Southeast Asia, when Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific General Vincent Brooks confirmed that Russian planes circling Guam recently were refueled by tankers at Cam Ranh Bay. Continue reading What Should the United States Do about Cam Ranh Bay and Russia’s Place in Vietnam? →

Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds

Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds
is the fifth installment in the US National Intelligence Council’s series aimed at providing a framework for thinking about the future. As with previous editions, we hope that this report will stimulate strategic thinking by identifying critical trends and potential discontinuities. We distinguish between megatrends, those factors that will likely occur under any scenario, and game-changers, critical variables whose trajectories are far less certain. Finally, as our appreciation of the diversity and complexity of various factors has grown, we have increased our attention to scenarios or alternative worlds we might face. Continue reading Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds →

Getting Rights Right at Vietnam’s Crossroads

By Jonathan D. London

    Photo: Vietnamese citizens watch fireworks in downtown Hanoi. Source: Terbeck’s flickr photostream, used under a creative commons license.

Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s upcoming visit to Washington comes at a critical juncture for Vietnam and a time when a confluence of domestic, regional, and geopolitical factors are giving increasing salience to the importance of expanding and protecting civil and political liberties in the country. The most important step in making the case for human rights in Vietnam is to convince the country’s leadership that better rights will generate significant benefits for Vietnam both domestically and in the international arena. Continue reading Getting Rights Right at Vietnam’s Crossroads →

Lam Dong unveils its go green plan

Priority will be given for allocating forest areas to ethnic households, poor households without land and local communities to protect. — Photo binhthuan

HCM CITY (VNS) — The Lam Dong Province People’s Committee on Sunday unveiled a plan for the “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, sustainable management of forest resources, conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks” to be implemented through 2020. Continue reading Lam Dong unveils its go green plan →

Quang Binh villages to get solar power

The project covers eight communes in four districts and will eventually supply nearly 1,300 households and 78 offices. — Illustrative image File Photo

QUANG BINH (VNS) — Authorities in central Quang Binh Province have conducted research on a solar-power project to make sure it is cost effective in all areas that it reaches.

If it is not effective in all villages, authorites said they would switch to normal network power to link them up. Continue reading Quang Binh villages to get solar power →

3-Euro gift from Vienna

I heard about Vienna for its charm and its world-renowned classical music and operas, but I’d never thought that Vienna could be in my EU travel list that soon. It was a completely unplanned trip, unlike what I usually did when traveling. Vienna meet-up was due to a situation that demanded me to travel. To be honest, I wanted to visit Vienna for some unexpected reasons. I actually convinced myself to spend a few days in Vienna as a little treat and a break during my hectic time at work. Continue reading 3-Euro gift from Vienna →

And you thought the Arab Spring was disappointing.

Southeast Asia’s Democracy Downer

Three years ago, on April 1, 2012, I had the great privilege to watch Burmese citizens take part in their first free election in a quarter of a century. As votes go, this was actually a pretty modest one — it was a mere by-election, so only a few seats in the national assembly were up for grabs. In practical terms, the voters’ choices had little real impact on the balance of forces in the country at large.

Yet that modest reality didn’t seem to matter. People seized the opportunity to exercise their rights with joy.

Continue reading And you thought the Arab Spring was disappointing. →

VN women need to participate more in politics

Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at a global conference in Japan earlier this month. — VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

HA NOI (VNS) — Director of the gender equality department under the labour, invalids and social affairs ministry Pham Ngoc Tien yesterday said women’s participation in the political sector was still low. Continue reading VN women need to participate more in politics →

The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistic and Emerging Trends 2015

Data collection is a major and constant concern of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM – Organics International). The comprehensive data provided in this publication serve as an important tool for stakeholders, policy makers, authorities, and the industry, as well as for researchers and extension professionals. The information provided here has proven useful in development programs and supporting strategies for organic agriculture and markets, and crucial for monitoring the impact of these activities. The data collection of FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International has become one of the most frequently quoted literature in scientific, technical and descriptive papers and reports on organic agriculture. With this edition, FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International are presenting “The World of Organic Agriculture” for the 16th time. The data and information compiled in this volume document the current statistics, recent developments, and trends in global organic farming. The statistical information and all chapters have been updated. As in previous editions, regional reports were also compiled.

Read and download full report here

Also Current Statistics (for a quick glance)

Sugarcane farmers bitter as yields, prices crash

Farmers in the southern province of Soc Trang harvest sugarcane. The fall in cane prices is attributed to large stocks of sugar produced from the previous crop. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Hieu

HCM CITY  (VNS) — For sugarcane farmers in the central and southern regions it has been a double whammy as bad weather and diseases first hit their crop and then low prices reduced their incomes. Continue reading Sugarcane farmers bitter as yields, prices crash →

Ninh Thuan seeks investors for 72 projects

Nui Chua, a high-end tourism complex covering 250 hectares (ha) in the Ninh Hai District, is one of the major projects as it will require a total capital of VND5 trillion (US$233.6 million). — File Photo

HA NOI (VNS) — The central coast province of Ninh Thuan has called upon domestic and foreign investors to finance 72 projects in various sectors from now till 2020, according to the Ninh Thuan Economic Development Office (EDO). Continue reading Ninh Thuan seeks investors for 72 projects →

Whistleblowers to be rewarded up to US$160,000

Hoang Thi Nguyet (right) received a merit certificate and VND320,000 ($15) for exposing violations at the Hoai Duc Hospital in Ha Noi. — Photo dantri.com.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Inspectorate have issued a joint circular announcing that whistleblowers will be rewarded up to VND3.4 billion (US$160,000).

The joint circular said individuals who come forward to denounce corruption will be awarded in many ways. Specifically, those individuals, who detect and try to prevent corrupt acts worth between VND300 million ($15,000) and upwards will qualify for the reward. Continue reading Whistleblowers to be rewarded up to US$160,000 →

Viet Nam says US support welcome in Asia-Pacific

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang meetis with the US State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific, Scot Marciel, in Washington D.C. on Sunday. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Hoa

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam welcomes the intensified co-operation between the US and the Asia-Pacific, including Viet Nam, on the principle of respecting the United Nations Charter, international law, and countries’ political institution, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Continue reading Viet Nam says US support welcome in Asia-Pacific →

Local players qualify for worlds

Next move: Vietnamese chess masters Le Quang Liem, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Pham Le Thao Nguyen (from left) have secured world berths after winning a qualification tournament which closed in Viet Nam yesterday. — File Photos

HA NOI (VNS) — Winning all three tickets in Zone 3.3 yesterday, Viet Nam will now compete in the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championships.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Pham Le Thao Nguyen bagged their spots in the final day of the tournament, a day after teammate Le Quang Liem’s victory. Continue reading Local players qualify for worlds →

Mystery oil slicks reappear

Staff of the local Environmental Service company try to clean up oil slicks that have appeared again along the coast of Vung Tau City in southern Viet Nam in what has become an unexplained annual phenomenon. — VNS File Photo

HCM CITY(VNS) — Oil slicks have appeared again along the coast of Vung Tau city in southern Viet Nam in what has become an unexplained annual phenomenon.

On March 2 slicks covered 10km of the city’s Thuy Van Beach, scaring people out of the water. Continue reading Mystery oil slicks reappear →